U.S. patent number 9,356,388 [Application Number 14/364,246] was granted by the patent office on 2016-05-31 for terminal-attached wire and terminal.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD. The grantee listed for this patent is AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD, SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.. Invention is credited to Takeshi Aizawa, Satoshi Morikawa, Kazuaki Takeda, Takashi Tonosaki, Yoshihiro Uchiyama.
United States Patent |
9,356,388 |
Aizawa , et al. |
May 31, 2016 |
Terminal-attached wire and terminal
Abstract
A terminal (15) of a terminal-attached wire (10), in which the
terminal (15) is connected to an end portion of a wire (11) and the
end portion is sealed by a heat shrinkable tube (33), includes a
terminal connecting portion (16) to be connected to a mating
terminal, a wire connecting portion (18) to be connected to the end
portion of the wire (11) and a coupling portion (22) coupling the
terminal connecting portion (16) and the wire connecting portion
(18) An opening end (33A) of the heat shrinkable tube (33) is
mounted on the coupling portion (22), and a draining portion (32)
for preventing adhering water from running down to the opening end
(33A) is provided on a side closer to the terminal connecting
portion (16) than the opening end (33A).
Inventors: |
Aizawa; Takeshi (Yokkaichi,
JP), Morikawa; Satoshi (Yokkaichi, JP),
Uchiyama; Yoshihiro (Yokkaichi, JP), Takeda;
Kazuaki (Yokkaichi, JP), Tonosaki; Takashi
(Yokkaichi, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD
SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD. |
Yokkaichi-shi, Mie
Yokkaichi-shi, Mie
Osaka-shi, Osaka |
N/A
N/A
N/A |
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD
(Yokkaichi-shi, Mie, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
48612408 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/364,246 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2012 |
PCT
Filed: |
November 28, 2012 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2012/080705 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
June 10, 2014 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2013/088953 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
June 20, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20140349501 A1 |
Nov 27, 2014 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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Dec 12, 2011 [JP] |
|
|
2011-271028 |
Jan 25, 2012 [JP] |
|
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2012-013101 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
4/72 (20130101); H01R 13/5227 (20130101); H01R
13/5221 (20130101); H01R 4/62 (20130101); H01R
4/185 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/52 (20060101); H01R 4/72 (20060101); H01R
4/62 (20060101); H01R 4/18 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
8309847 |
November 2012 |
Aburaya et al. |
|
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-289745 |
|
Oct 1998 |
|
JP |
|
2000-285983 |
|
Oct 2000 |
|
JP |
|
2008-135278 |
|
Jun 2008 |
|
JP |
|
2008176970 |
|
Jul 2008 |
|
JP |
|
2010049941 |
|
Mar 2010 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
English Translation of JP 10-289745, published Oct. 27, 1998,
translation made Jun. 1, 2015. cited by examiner .
English Translation of JP 2008-176970, published Jul. 31, 2008,
translation made Jun. 1, 2015. cited by examiner .
International Search Report of Jan. 22, 2013. cited by applicant
.
Written Opinion of Jan. 22, 2013. cited by applicant .
Japanese Patent Appl. No. 2012-01310--Office Action issued Feb. 3,
2015. cited by applicant .
Korean Office Action issued on Aug. 19, 2015. cited by applicant
.
Chinese Patent Appl. No. 2012-80057509.9--Office Action issued Aug.
17, 2015. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Johnson; Amy Cohen
Assistant Examiner: Dzierzynski; Matthew T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hespos; Gerald Porco; Michael
Hespos; Matthew
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A terminal-attached wire comprising: a wire having an end
portion; a heat shrinkable tube that is a waterproof tube and that
seals the end portion of the wire and has an opening edge and an
inner peripheral surface adjacent the opening edge; and a terminal
connected to the end portion of the wire, the terminal including: a
terminal connecting portion to be connected to a mating terminal, a
wire connecting portion to be connected to the end portion of the
wire, the terminal connecting portion and the wire connecting
portion being spaced apart along a longitudinal direction, and a
coupling portion coupling the terminal connecting portion and the
wire connecting portion, the coupling portion including: a bottom
having opposite first and second sides, first and second side walls
extending respectively from the opposite first and second sides of
the bottom, first and second water-stop pieces extending
respectively from ends of the first and second opposite side walls
remote from the bottom and being bent inward from the opposite side
walls along outer bend lines that extend substantially parallel to
the longitudinal direction, each of the water-stop pieces further
being bent at a location spaced from the respective side wall about
an inner bend line that extends substantially parallel to the
longitudinal direction so that a free end of the respective
water-stop piece is opposed to and facing the bottom of the
coupling portion, a mount portion being defined on an outer
peripheral surface of each of the water stop pieces and the side
walls, the mount portion extending from the bottom of the coupling
portion to the inner bend lines, the opening edge of the heat
shrinkable tube terminating on the mount portion and the inner
peripheral surface of the heat shrinkable tube adjacent the opening
edge of the heat shrinkable tube closely contacting the mount
portion, and a draining portion provided on a side closer to the
terminal connecting portion than the opening edge of the heat
shrinkable tube for preventing water from running from a terminal
connecting portion side to the opening edge of the heat shrinkable
tube.
2. The terminal-attached wire of claim 1, wherein the draining
portion is a step portion rising in a step-like manner.
3. The terminal-attached wire of claim 1, wherein the draining
portion is a cut surface formed by cutting a metal plate material
and provided on a side edge part of the coupling portion.
4. The terminal-attached wire of claim 1, wherein: the coupling
portion is formed of a bent metal plate material; and the draining
portion is formed by a cut portion provided on a side edge part of
the coupling portion.
5. The terminal-attached wire of claim 1, wherein the coupling
portion is formed of a bent metal plate material; and the draining
portion is a projecting piece formed by extending a side edge part
of the coupling portion.
6. The terminal-attached wire of claim 1, wherein the coupling
portion includes an inclined portion inclined to guide adhering
water toward the draining portion.
7. A terminal to be connected to an end portion of a wire to be
sealed by a heat shrinkable tube, an opening edge and an inner
peripheral surface adjacent the opening edge, the terminal
comprising: a terminal connecting portion to be connected to a
mating terminal; a wire connecting portion to be connected to the
end portion of the wire, the terminal connecting portion and the
wire connecting portion being spaced apart along a longitudinal
direction; and a coupling portion coupling the terminal connecting
portion and the wire connecting portion, the coupling portion
including: a bottom having opposite first and second sides, first
and second side walls extending respectively from the opposite
first and second sides of the bottom, first and second water-stop
pieces extending from ends of the respective first and second
opposite side walls remote from the bottom and being bent inward
from the opposite side walls along outer bend lines that extend
substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, each of the
water-stop pieces further being bent at a location spaced from the
respective side wall about an inner bend line that extends
substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction so that a free
end of the respective water-stop piece is opposed to and facing the
bottom of the coupling portion, a mount portion being defined on an
outer peripheral surface of each of the water stop pieces and the
side walls, the mount portion extending from the bottom of the
coupling portion to the inner bend lines, the opening edge of the
heat shrinkable tube terminating on the mount portion and the inner
peripheral surface of the heat shrinkable tube adjacent the opening
edge of the heat shrinkable tube closely contacting the mount
portion, and a draining portion provided on a side closer to the
terminal connecting portion than the opening edge of the heat
shrinkable tube for preventing water from running from a terminal
connecting portion side to the opening edge of the heat shrinkable
tube.
8. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the draining portion is a step
portion rising in a step-like manner.
9. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the draining portion is a cut
surface formed by cutting a metal plate material and provided on a
side edge part of the coupling portion.
10. The terminal of claim 7, wherein: the coupling portion is
formed of a bent metal plate material; and the draining portion is
formed by a cut portion provided on a side edge part of the
coupling portion.
11. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the coupling portion is formed
of a bent metal plate material; and the draining portion is a
projecting piece formed by extending a side edge part of the
coupling portion.
12. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the coupling portion includes
an inclined portion inclined to guide adhering water toward the
draining portion.
13. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the inner bend lines abut one
another.
14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the inner bend lines and the
outer bend lines of the first and second water stop pieces lie
substantially in a common plane.
15. The terminal-attached wire of claim 1, wherein the inner bend
lines abut one another.
16. The terminal-attached wire of claim 15, wherein the inner bend
lines and the outer bend lines of the first and second water stop
pieces lie substantially in a common plane.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a terminal-attached wire and a
terminal.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally, a terminal-attached wire provided with a wire and a
terminal crimped to a wire end is known from Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. 2000-285983. The terminal-attached wire of
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-285983 is used, for
example, in an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle. Since
water can normally intrude into the engine compartment, there is a
possibility that water adheres to a connecting part of the terminal
and the wire. If water adheres to this connecting part, the
terminal and a core made of a metal material is corroded.
Particularly, when mutually different metal members are connected
such as when the terminal is made of copper and the core is made of
aluminum, corrosion is likely to occur. Thus, a heat shrinkable
tube is fitted around the connecting part in the terminal-attached
wire disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2000-285983. By fitting the heat shrinkable tube in this way, water
does not come into contact with the connecting part of the
terminal-attached wire from the surrounding.
Water that can intrude into the connecting part of the terminal and
the wire flows not only in a circumferential direction of the heat
shrinkable tube, but may also flow from a tip side of the terminal.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-285983, water
may intrude from a boundary part between the tip side of the heat
shrinkable tube and the terminal.
The present invention was completed based on the above situation
and aims to provide a terminal-attached wire and a terminal having
improved waterproofness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a terminal-attached wire in
which a terminal is connected to an end portion of a wire and the
end portion is sealed by a sealing portion, wherein the terminal
includes a terminal connecting portion to be connected to a mating
terminal, a wire connecting portion to be connected to the end
portion of the wire, and a coupling portion coupling the terminal
connecting portion and the wire connecting portion, an end part of
the sealing portion is mounted on the coupling portion and a
draining portion for preventing adhering water from running down to
the end part of the sealing portion is provided on a side closer to
the terminal connecting portion than the end part of the sealing
portion.
The present invention is also directed to a terminal to be
connected to an end portion of a wire to be sealed by a sealing
portion, including a terminal connecting portion to be connected to
a mating terminal; a wire connecting portion to be connected to the
end portion of the wire; and a coupling portion coupling the
terminal connecting portion and the wire connecting portion;
wherein an end part of the sealing portion is mounted on the
coupling portion and a draining portion for preventing adhering
water from running down to the end part of the sealing portion is
provided on a side closer to the terminal connecting portion than
the end part of the sealing portion.
According to the above configurations, since water running down
from the side of the terminal connecting portion can be drained by
the draining portion, it is possible to prevent water from running
down to the end part of the sealing portion. Thus, it is possible
to prevent the intrusion of water into the end portion of the wire
from a boundary part between the coupling portion and the end part
of the sealing portion, wherefore the waterproofness of the
terminal-attached wire and the terminal can be improved.
The following configurations are preferable as embodiments of the
invention.
The draining portion is a step portion rising in a step-like
manner.
This can prevent the intrusion of water into the end portion of the
wire by a simple configuration.
The draining portion is a cut surface formed by cutting a metal
plate material and provided on a side edge part of the coupling
portion. This facilitates the drainage of adhering water due to a
rough uneven shape of the cut surface.
The coupling portion is formed of a bent metal plate material, and
the draining portion is formed by a cut portion provided on a side
edge part of the coupling portion.
This enables the formation of the draining portion by a simple
configuration.
A water-stop wall is formed by bending a water-stop piece rising
from the coupling portion, and the draining portion is formed by
the water-stop piece. This enables the formation of the draining
portion utilizing a configuration for forming the water-stop
wall.
The coupling portion includes an end mounting portion on which the
end part of the sealing portion is to be mounted, and the end
mounting portion is configured to include the outer periphery of
the water-stop piece. This enables the formation of the end
mounting portion to be sealed by the end part of the sealing
portion, utilizing the water-stop piece for forming the water-stop
wall.
The coupling portion is formed of a bent metal plate material, and
the draining portion is a projecting piece formed by extending a
side edge part of the coupling portion. This enables the formation
of the draining portion by a simple configuration.
The coupling portion includes an inclined portion inclined to guide
adhering water toward the draining portion. This enables water to
be guided to the draining portion along the inclined portion.
The sealing portion is a waterproof tube.
This enables the intrusion of water in a circumferential direction
of the sealing portion to be reliably prevented.
The waterproof tube is a heat shrinkable tube. This can simplify an
operation of mounting the waterproof tube.
According to the present invention, it is possible to improve
waterproofness.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a terminal-attached wire of a first
embodiment,
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the terminal-attached wire,
FIG. 3 is a section along A-A of FIG. 2, and
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a terminal-attached wire of a second
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A terminal-attached wire 10 according to an embodiment of the
present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal-attached wire 10 includes a wire
11, a terminal 15 to be mounted on an end of this wire 11 and a
heat shrinkable tube 33 (an example of a "sealing portion" and "a
waterproof tube" as an element of the present invention) to be
fitted to surround an end portion of the wire 11. This
terminal-attached wire 10 is accommodated in a posture (vertical
orientation) of FIG. 2 in a cavity of an unillustrated connector
housing. A vertical direction is based on FIG. 2 and left and right
sides of FIG. 2 are respectively referred to as front and rear
sides below.
As shown in FIG. 1, the wire 11 includes a conductor 12 formed by
twisting a plurality of metal strands and an insulation coating 13
(insulation layer) made of synthetic resin for covering the outer
periphery of the conductor 12. Examples of a material constituting
the conductor 12 include copper, copper alloy, aluminum and
aluminum alloy, and an arbitrary metal material is appropriately
selected according to need. The insulation coating 13 is removed at
the end portion of the wire 11 to expose the conductor 12. Note
that a single-core wire composed of one conductor may be used for
the conductor 12.
The terminal 15 is a female terminal to be connected to an
unillustrated mating male terminal and includes a terminal
connecting portion 16 to be connected to the mating terminal, a
wire connecting portion 18 to be connected to the end portion of
the wire 11 and a coupling portion 22 integrally coupling the
terminal connecting portion 16 and the wire connecting portion
18.
The terminal connecting portion 16 is provided on a tip side of the
terminal 15 and includes a rectangular tube portion 17 having a
rectangular cross-section. The rectangular tube portion 17 is
formed by annularly connecting a bottom plate portion 17A, a pair
of side wall portions 17B, 17B and a ceiling plate portion 17C. In
this rectangular tube portion 17, a resilient contact piece (not
shown) to be resiliently brought into contact with the mating
terminal is provided resiliently deformably with a tip side of the
bottom plate portion 17A as a base end.
The wire connecting portion 18 is composed of a U-shaped placing
portion 19 in which the wire 11 is to be placed, a wire barrel
portion 20 to be caulked and crimped to the conductor 12 and an
insulation barrel portion 21 to be caulked on the insulation
coating 13 to hold the wire 11.
The wire barrel portion 20 is composed of a pair of caulking pieces
20A, 20A, which rise from the upper edges of the placing portion 19
before the terminal 15 is mounted on the wire 11. This wire barrel
portion 20 is so crimped to the conductor 12 on the bottom plate
portion 17A as to embrace the conductor 12 when the terminal 15 is
mounted on the wire 11. Serration (not shown) for removing an oxide
film by being abraded against the conductor 12 at the time of
crimping is formed by providing recesses on the inner surface of
the wire barrel portion 20 and the inner surface of the placing
portion 19 in this part.
The insulation barrel portion 21 is composed of a pair of caulking
pieces 21A, 21A, which rise from the upper edges of the placing
portion 19 and extend upward from the upper edges of the placing
portion 19 before the terminal 15 is mounted on the wire 11. This
insulation barrel portion 21 is so crimped to the insulation
coating 13 on the end portion of the wire 11 as to embrace the
insulation coating 13.
The coupling portion 22 includes an extending portion 23 extending
backward from the terminal connecting portion 16 while gradually
reducing a width and a water-stop wall 28 provided on a rear end
part of the extending portion 23 to prevent the intrusion of water
toward the end of the wire 11. The extending portion 23 includes a
bottom plate portion 23A in the form of a flat plate and side wall
portions 23B, 23B rising at a right angle from left and right edges
of the bottom plate portion 23A.
The bottom plate portion 23A is shaped to gradually reduce a width
toward a rear side. As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall portion 23B
includes a first wall portion 24 whose height is gradually reduced
from the rear end of the terminal connecting portion 16 toward a
rear side, a second wall portion 25 formed to have a lower height
than the first wall portion 24 and fall in a step-like manner from
the rear end of the first wall portion, and a third wall portion 26
connected to and behind the second wall portion 25 and including a
water-stop piece 29 from the upper end.
The upper end of the first wall portion 24 serves as an inclined
portion 24A inclined downward toward a rear side. Water adhering to
this inclined portion 24A moves backward along this inclined
portion 24A. Base end portions 29A, 29A of the water-stop pieces
29, 29 forming the water-stop wall 28 are connected to and above
the upper ends of the third wall portions 26, and the front edges
of the base end parts 29A of the water-stop pieces 29 serve as step
portions 30 rising in the vertical direction in a step-like manner
from upper ends 25A of the second wall portions 25. A rectangular
cut portion 27 formed in an upper end part of the side wall portion
23B is defined by a side edge 24B of the first wall portion 24, the
upper end 25A of the second wall portion 25 and the step portion
30.
In this way, water drops running down along the inclined portions
24A collide with the upper ends 25A of the second wall portions 25
and the step portions 30, and drained inwardly or outwardly here.
Thus, the upper ends 25A of the second wall portions 25 and the
step portions 30 serve as a draining portion 32 for draining water
running down along the inclined portion 24A.
As shown in FIG. 3, the water-stop wall 28 is composed of the pair
of water-stop pieces 29, 29 connected on the respective upper ends
of a pair of left and right third wall portions 26. The pair of
water-stop pieces 29, 29 are folded inwardly and squeezed between
the pair of left and right third wall portions 26, 26.
The pair of water-stop pieces 29, 29 are in the form of strips
connected to and above the third wall portions 26 before the
water-stop wall 28 is formed. The water-stop pieces 29, 29 (area of
the water-stop pieces 29, 29 in a front-back direction) are
sandwiched from upper and lower sides by a pair of upper and lower
dies, and deformed and folded. The area of the water-stop pieces
29, 29 is pressed in a circumferential direction and squeezed such
that the outer periphery has a rectangular shape, whereby the
water-stop wall 28 is formed between the left and right third wall
portions 26.
A rectangular outer surface formed by the bottom plate portion 23A,
the side wall portions 23B, 23B and the water-stop pieces 29 serves
as an end mounting portion 31 on which a front opening end 33A of
the heat shrinkable tube 33 (an example of an "end part of the
sealing portion" as an element of the present invention) is
mounted, and the tubular opening end 33A is held in close contact
with the end mounting portion 31 by thermal shrinkage of the heat
shrinkable tube 33.
Examples of a metal material constituting the terminal 15 include
copper and copper alloy, and an arbitrary metal material is
appropriately selected according to need. Note that a plating layer
(not shown) is formed on a surface of the metal material of the
terminal 15 of this embodiment. Examples of a metal constituting
the plating layer include tin and nickel and an arbitrary metal
material is appropriately selected according to need. In this
embodiment, a tin plating layer is formed on the surface of the
metal material (copper or copper alloy) constituting the terminal
15. This terminal 15 is formed by punching out a metal plate
material into a development shape of the terminal 15 and applying
bending.
The heat shrinkable tube 33 is a tubular member made of a synthetic
resin material which shrinks upon being heated. The front opening
end 33A of the heat shrinkable tube 33 is held in close contact
with the end mounting portion 31 while surrounding the end mounting
portion 31, and a rear opening end is held in close contact with
the insulation coating 13 on the end portion of the wire 11 while
surrounding the insulation coating 13.
An adhesive layer (not shown) which is softened or melted by being
heated to exhibit an adhesive property is formed on the inner
peripheral surface of the heat shrinkable tube 33. A known adhesive
used in the wire 11 of this type can be applied as an adhesive used
in the adhesive layer. Note that it is also possible not to provide
the adhesive layer on the inner peripheral surface of the heat
shrinkable tube 33.
Next, a manufacturing process of the terminal-attached wire 10
according to this embodiment is described. The terminal 15 in which
the water-stop pieces 29 and the caulking pieces 20A, 21A extend
upward (before the water-stop wall 28 is formed and the terminal 15
is mounted on the wire 11) is formed by applying a punching process
of punching the flat metal plate material into a development shape
by a press machine and a bending process.
Then, the pair of water-stop pieces 29, 29 are sandwiched between
the upper and lower dies, bent and folded, and squeezed between the
left and right side wall portions 23B, 23B. Further, the wire 11 in
which the insulation coating 13 is removed at the end portion of
the wire 11 to expose the conductor 12 is placed on the placing
portion 19 of the wire connecting portion 18, sandwiched by a lower
die (anvil) and an upper die (crimper) to caulk the caulking pieces
20A, 20A; 21A, 21A. In this way, the wire barrel portion 20 is
crimped to the conductor 12, the insulation barrel portion 21 is
held onto a part of the insulation coating 13, and the terminal 15
is mounted on the end portion of the wire 11.
Note that a step of forming the water-stop wall 28 and a step of
caulking the wire connecting portion 18 may be simultaneously
performed.
Subsequently, the tubular heat shrinkable tube 33 in an unheated
state is fitted on the end portion of the wire 11 where the
terminal 15 is mounted. The heat shrinkable tube 33 may be fitted
from the side of the terminal 15 or from the side of the wire
11.
A heating process is applied to the terminal 15 on the end portion
of the wire 11 fitted with the heat shrinkable tube 33 in an
unillustrated heating apparatus. In this heating process, the heat
shrinkable tube 33 thermally shrinks. At this time, the front (one)
opening end 33A of the heat shrinkable tube 33 is held in close
contact with the end mounting portion 31 of the terminal 15
substantially without any clearance and the rear (other) opening
end is held in close contact with the insulation coating 13 of the
wire 11 without any clearance.
In this way, the terminal-attached wire 10 is formed.
According to this embodiment, the following functions and effects
are achieved.
(1) In the terminal-attached wire 10, the terminal 15 is connected
to the end portion of the wire 11 and the end portion is sealed by
the heat shrinkable tube 33 (sealing portion). The terminal 15
includes the terminal connecting portion 16 to be connected to the
mating terminal, the wire connecting portion 18 to be connected to
the end portion of the wire 11 and the coupling portion 22 coupling
the terminal connecting portion 16 and the wire connecting portion
18. The opening end 33A of the heat shrinkable tube 33 (end part of
the sealing portion) is mounted on the coupling portion 22, and the
draining portion 32 for preventing the adhering water from running
down to the opening end 33A of the heat shrinkable tube 33 is
provided on a side closer to the terminal connecting portion 16
than the opening end 33A of the heat shrinkable tube 33. According
to this embodiment, since water running down from the side of the
terminal connecting portion 16 can be drained by the draining
portion 32, it is possible to prevent water from running down to
the opening end 33A (end part of the sealing portion) of the heat
shrinkable tube 33 (waterproof tube). Thus, it is possible to
prevent the intrusion of water into the end portion of the wire 11
from a boundary part between the coupling portion 22 and the
opening end 33A of the heat shrinkable tube 33 (end part of the
sealing portion), wherefore the waterproofness of the
terminal-attached wire 10 can be improved.
(2) The draining portion 32 is the step portions 30 rising in a
step-like manner. This can prevent the intrusion of water into the
end portion of the wire 11 by a simple configuration.
(3) The draining portion 32 is cut surfaces formed by cutting the
metal plate material and provided on side edge parts of the
coupling portion 22. This facilitates the drainage of adhering
water due to rough uneven shapes of the cut surfaces.
(4) The coupling portion 22 is formed of the bent metal plate
material and the draining portion 32 is formed by the cut portions
27 provided on the side edge parts of the coupling portion 22. This
enables the formation of the draining portion 32 by a simple
configuration.
(5) The water-stop wall 28 is formed by bending the water-stop
pieces 29, 29 rising from the coupling portion 22, and the draining
portion 32 is formed by the water-stop pieces 29, 29. This enables
the formation of the draining portion 32 utilizing a configuration
for forming the water-stop wall 28.
(6) The coupling portion 22 includes the end mounting portion 31 on
which the opening end 33A of the heat shrinkable tube 33
(waterproof tube) is to be mounted, and the end mounting portion 31
is configured to include the outer peripheries of the water-stop
pieces 29. This enables the formation of the end mounting portion
31, on which the opening 33A of the heat shrinkable tube 33
(waterproof tube) is mounted, utilizing the water-stop pieces 29
for forming the water-stop wall 28.
(7) The coupling portion 22 is provided with the inclined portions
24A inclined to guide adhering water toward the draining portion
32. This enables water to be guided to the draining portion 32
along the inclined portions 24A.
(8) The sealing portion is a waterproof tube. This enables the
intrusion of water in a circumferential direction of the sealing
portion to be reliably prevented.
(9) The waterproof tube is the heat shrinkable tube 33. This can
simplify an operation of mounting the waterproof tube.
A second embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 4. The same
components as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same
reference signs and not described below.
In the second embodiment, the cut portions 27 of the first
embodiment are not provided, and a pair of left and right
projecting pieces 35, 35 projecting upward are provided on parts of
second side walls 25 where the cut portions 27 are provided.
The projecting pieces 35 rise in a step-like manner from the rear
ends (lower ends) of inclined portions 24A of first side walls, and
the front edges of the projecting pieces 35 serve as step portions
35A (draining portion) for draining water adhering to the inclined
portions 24A. Note that water-stop pieces 29 and the projecting
pieces 35 are divided by slits 36 before a bending process, so that
only the water-stop pieces 29 can be bent (without bending the
projecting pieces 35).
According to the second embodiment, a coupling portion 22 is made
of a bent metal plate material, and the step portions 35A (draining
portion) are the projecting pieces 35 formed by extending side edge
parts of the coupling portion 22. Thus, the step portions 35A can
be formed by a simple configuration.
The present invention is not limited to the above described and
illustrated embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are
also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
Although the wire connecting portion 18 includes the insulation
barrel portion 21 in the above embodiments, it may be composed only
of the wire barrel portion without including the insulation barrel
portion 21.
Although the terminal 15 is a female terminal in the above
embodiments, there is no limitation to this. The terminal 15 may be
a male terminal or a round terminal (so-called LA terminal). That
is, the shape of the terminal 15 may be appropriately selected
according to need.
Although the heat shrinkable tube 33 is used as the sealing portion
for sealing the end portion of the wire in the above embodiments,
there is no limitation to this. A waterproof tube other than the
heat shrinkable tube may be used. Further, the sealing portion may
be other than the tube. For example, the sealing portion may be
formed by winding a tape around the end portion of the wire or
molding the end portion of the wire with resin.
Although the draining portion is formed by the upper ends 25A of
the second wall portions 25 and the step portions 30 in the above
embodiment, there is no limitation to this. The draining portion
may be formed by either the upper ends of the second wall portions
or the step portions.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
10 . . . terminal-attached wire 11 . . . wire 12 . . . conductor 13
. . . insulation coating 15 . . . terminal 16 . . . terminal
connecting portion 17 . . . rectangular tube portion 17A . . .
bottom plate portion 18 . . . wire connecting portion 19 . . .
placing portion 20 . . . wire barrel portion 21 . . . insulation
barrel portion 22 . . . coupling portion 23 . . . extending portion
23B . . . side wall portion 24 . . . first wall portion 24A . . .
inclined portion 24B . . . side edge of the first wall portion 25 .
. . second wall portion 25A . . . upper end of the second wall
portion 26 . . . third wall portion 27 . . . cut portion 28 . . .
water-stop wall 29 . . . water-stop piece 29A . . . base end part
of the water-stop piece 30, 35A . . . step portion 31 . . . end
mounting portion 32 . . . draining portion 33 . . . heat shrinkable
tube (sealing portion, waterproof tube) 33A . . . opening end (end
part of the sealing portion) 35 . . . projecting piece
* * * * *